LAFC @ Vancouver Whitecaps - Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs - Round One Best-of-3 Series - Game 2
Sunday, Nov. 3 at 5:45 p.m. PT
🏟: BC Place - Vancouver, BC
After a 2-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps last Sunday in Game 1 of their Round One Best-of-3 Series, LAFC travels to face the ‘Caps for Game 2 at BC Place on Sunday, November 3.
Sunday’s win helped the Black & Gold improve to 3W-0L-0D, all time, in Round One Best-of-3 Series matches, with all three wins coming over Vancouver. For the second consecutive year, LAFC has the chance to eliminate Vancouver at BC Place.
“It ended up being a tight game last week [in Game 1] and we expect the same,” LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo told the media on Friday. “It always is against Vancouver. It's a team who will always fight, who will run, who are tactically disciplined and will have solutions for our defensive organization. So we'll prepare our players for plan A and B, and in the end we would like to finish the series out on Sunday.”
LAFC brings a seven-game winning streak across all competitions into Sunday’s Game 2, having outscored opponents 16-5 over that stretch.
Sunday’s match will be the eleventh encounter between the teams since the beginning of 2023, with LAFC holding a 7W-1L-2D advantage and outscoring the ‘Caps 24-10 in that time frame.
“Sometimes it's hard when you play the same teams over and over again because no one really changes their style of play that much,” LAFC midfielder Lewis O’Brien said Friday. “When you start to understand their players and they start to understand you, it becomes a bit of a bit of a stalemate between the two teams. But there's always little things that you can pick up on in games and little things that we've been looking at in video and try to change for the next game.”
Whitecaps In Depth:
Coached by Vanni Sartini, the ‘Caps are aiming to extend this Best-of-3 Series to a Game 3 at BMO Stadium.
Vancouver earned a 6W-7L-4D record at BC Place during the 2024 regular season, but is winless in its last four home matches, including a 2-1 defeat to LAFC on October 13.
Leading the attack is Designated Player Ryan Gauld, who on Friday was named Vancouver’s Player of the Year for the third straight season. The Scottish playmaker has tallied four goals in two matches for Vancouver this postseason, netting a hat trick in the Wild Card match against the Portland Timbers in addition to the ‘Caps lone goal at BMO Stadium last Sunday.
The Black & Gold Can Win If:
It once again navigates the artificial turf at BC Place. LAFC is undefeated in its last four meetings (3W-0L-1D) in Vancouver, including a 1-0 playoff victory in 2023. LAFC is also 3W-0L-1D against the Whitecaps in 2024 across all competitions, outscoring them 9-4.
To advance on Sunday and secure a spot in the Western Conference Semifinals, LAFC's defense must continue to display the form that has resulted in only five conceded goals over its last seven matches. The Black & Gold will also rely on forward Denis Bouanga, who has netted four goals in three playoff games against Vancouver, and whose successful penalty kick in Game 1 marked his eighth goal in nine total playoff appearances for the Black & Gold.
Vancouver Can Win If:
They capitalize on any LAFC defensive lapses. One of the league’s top defenses, LAFC looked vulnerable at times against Vancouver in Game 1. The hosts will need to finish any chances the defending conference champs give them in Game 2.
“Playing well probably is not enough against them,” Sartini said this week. “So we need to play well, like we did last game, but we also need a little bit extra. That can be an extra performance from an individual, or the extra courage we need to have when we are attacking. We need that extra. Hopefully playing at home will help.”
